Wind Sun Sky Entertainment is feathering the nest of climate-positive IP Future Chicken with a new advisory board led by former Noggin and Sesame Workshop executive Michael Levine.

Launched in 2023, Future Chicken mixes learning and humor in an animated universe that educates kids about climate change and actionable solutions. The eco-franchise was co-created by Wind Sun Sky CEO and founder Catherine Winder and Annabel Slaight, founding chair of a nonprofit org called the Ontario Water Centre (OWC).

To date, it encompasses The Future Chicken Today Show, a mixed-media comedy series that airs in Canada on CBC Kids and streaming platform Gem; a series of YouTube shorts; a co-listening podcast for families; multiple Roblox games; and a website with educational materials.

New board chairman Levine was most recently installed as chief of learning and impact at Noggin, Paramount Global’s early learning app that was shuttered in February. And he previously served as chief knowledge officer at Sesame Workshop and founding executive director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center.  

Levine is currently serving as a senior adviser at Kapor Center (which drives gap-closing investments in tech innovation), as well as helping to lead the Aspen Institute’s Planet Media initiative.

Experienced children’s media executive Amy Friedman has also joined the Future Chicken board. She used to head up kids and family programming at Warner Bros. Discovery, and worked at Nickelodeon for many years in roles such as SVP of original programming and creative director of Noggin and TeenNick.

Rounding out the group of advisors are Christopher Cerf, an original creative on Sesame Street; Anya Kamenetz, a prominent social impact journalist and author; Beth Richman, a leading specialist in kids media education who has worked with the likes of DreamWorks Animation, Noggin and Sesame Workshop; and Marco Pimentel, a Canadian digital entrepreneur and environmental media advisor. 

Moving forward, the board’s “collective expertise and passion for both children’s media and climate issues will be instrumental in expanding awareness, creating partnership opportunities and, most importantly, amplifying our impact with children,” says Winder.